ACADEMY OF GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY COACHING (AcademyGMC) OPERATING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
STANDARD 1: MISSION AND VISION OF EDUCATION AND LEARNING PROGRAM
Mission: We are committed to providing high quality education for the professional growth and development of coaches serving in the public sector.
Vision: We imagine unlocking the talent of internal and external coaches in the public sector to promote and sustain growth and professional competence in coaching.
Learning Philosophy: AcademyGMC supports the principles of adult learning espoused by Dr. Malcolm Knowles, an American educator who was the father of adult learning.
Adults become more self-directed as they mature. Thus, learners need freedom to make their own choices in their learning journey.
Adults bring a wealth of knowledge to the learning experiences and process. Thus, our program looks for ways to allow all learners to share their experiences in meaningful ways to align to our courses and curriculum.
Adults want to learn things that can help them accomplish relevant tasks. Thus, all our instructors try to make clear what learners will be able to take away from our program and why the learning matters.
Adults want to solve problems. Thus, we try to provide examples of realistic and real-life scenarios that allow learners to practice their problem-solving skills in a safe environment.
Adults are internally rather than externally motivated for their own learning. Thus, we ask for and discuss learning expectations so we may clarify what is and isn’t covered in our program.
STANDARD 2: ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION & BUSINESS OPERATIONS
AcademyGMC partners, instructors and administrative staff abide by the bylaws of AcademyGMC as an established business entity. AcademyGMC’s educational programs adhere to the standards and requirements of ICF.
AcademyGMC Disability/Discrimination/DEIJ Statement: At AcademyGMC, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) is the cornerstone of a successful educational program in coaching. We are committed to fostering a safe, diverse, equitable coaching environment. We value each individual so they can reach their full potential. As members of the ICF community, we ascribe to the core values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and respect. The foundation of these values is a shared commitment to diversity, inclusion, belonging and justice. AcademyGMC will place diversity, inclusion, belonging, and justice at the forefront of every decision we make. We value the unique talents, insights, and experiences that every coach, employee, student, and/or participant brings.
AcademyGMC adheres to U.S. Civil Rights laws and has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination based on race, age, religion, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information. Discrimination complaints regarding a participant or faculty member shall be reviewed by the AcademyGMC advisory board and if founded, the individual will be disciplined and or removed.
It is the policy of AcademyGMC that:
Recruitment and hiring of all personnel are conducted without discrimination against individuals regardless of race, age, religion, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information.
All staff and personnel will not discriminate against any employee or participant because of race, age, religion, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information.
All individuals are welcome to participate regardless of race, age, religion, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information.
All AcademyGMC partners, instructors, students, and other participants should be able to enjoy an environment free of discrimination or harassment. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination or harassment in the areas of race, age, religion, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information. Our organization does not and will not tolerate conduct by any employee, student, volunteer, contractor, visitor, or vendor which unreasonably interferes with an individual’s ability to learn in a welcoming environment.
Participants who wish to report discrimination are encouraged to follow the grievance policy outlined in section 2.3. AcademyGMC will promptly investigate all claims and reports of inappropriate conduct.
AcademyGMC supports individuals with disabilities and is committed to providing disabled individuals access via reasonable accommodations. AcademyGMC prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and ensures equal opportunity for all qualified individuals with disabilities. AcademyGMC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in compliance with all local, state/territory, and federal laws. Individuals with questions about this policy or who wish to request accommodations should contact the AcademyGMC Director of Education: Dr. Juanita S (Sue) Stein at jsstein018@gmail.com or 813-315-9174.
Our goal is to create a create a learning environment which meets the needs of each individual learner. We can accommodate a variety of learning disabilities to make our program more accessible. Please contact Dr. Juanita S (Sue) Stein at jsstein018@gmail.com or 813-315-9174 before enrolling to determine if your needs can be met.
AcademyGMC Complaint/Grievance Statement: AcademyGMC seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to attempt to resolve any grievances in a timely and fair manner. Participants have the right to file a grievance regarding presentation or content, facility concerns, or staff and instructional/faculty behavior. All grievances will be addressed to the best of our ability to prevent further problems. A process for filing grievances can be found below:
A participant should first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the instructor/faculty member, staff, or participant with whom they have an issue. The participant may choose to have an informal meeting with the program manager to redress issues before filing a formal grievance or complaint.
If issue is not settled informally, the participant should submit a written grievance to the course manager or AcademyGMC registrar within 30 days. The course manager or AcademyGMC registrar will review the written complaint/grievance and render a decision within 30 days of submission. The course manager or AcademyGMC registrar will work with all parties involved to resolve the issue.
If a participant does not feel the issue is resolved, a written appeal should be sent to the AcademyGMC advisory board for a higher-level review within 15 days of the decision by the program manager or registrar. This appeal should include the original complaint and reason(s) the participant is unsatisfied with the resolution attempt(s). Appeals are reviewed and a written response will be provided to the participant within 30 days. All appeal decisions are final.
If the participant is not satisfied, he or she may file a complaint with the ICF Ethics Committee.
AcademyGMC shall post a copy of the accredited program’s Participant Enrollment Agreement
Commitment: Success in the AcademyGMC programs requires full commitment by all participants. By enrolling in AcademyGMC programs, participants agree to being fully present during all sessions and participating to the best of their ability. This includes arriving on time, abiding by the code of conduct, and engaging in course activities.
Course Engagement: AcademyGMC courses are designed to be interactive and engaging for our participants. It is therefore an expectation that participants join in all course activities, including dialogue with the course instructor and peers, mock coaching activities, and experiential learning exercises. If a participant is unable to join in an activity, he or she should inform the instructor as soon as possible. Please refer to the code of conduct for additional details.
Code of Conduct: Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner during all sessions. This includes, but is not limited to:
Arriving on time to all sessions.
Attending all live session and mentor coaching sessions.
Having the camera on for full virtual live sessions.
Participating fully in all sessions and mentor coaching feedback sessions. This includes being prepared for the session, involving in discussions and activities, assuming responsibility for learning and contributing to the learning of others.
Engaging in discussions with integrity and honesty.
Being respectful of fellow participants and instructors, including silencing the cell phone, not texting, and other disruptive behavior.
Embracing diversity and inclusion while respecting the dignity and humanity of others.
AcademyGMC Completion/Partial Completion Policy: AcademyGMC will maintain records of all enrollees and their completion of courses in the AcademyGMC coaching curriculum. Course and program graduates will receive a certificate of completion at the end of each course and or program. Each participant who fails to complete a course or program will receive a letter of partial completion of the coaching hours completed within 15 days after the scheduled completion of the course.
Attendance: Participants must complete all required training hours and homework to receive full credit for course approved hours. If a participant has an emergency, becomes ill or is unable to attend a course session, he or she should contact the instructor and the program manager immediately. The participant is expected to complete the make-up session materials, review the session recording, and/or complete a coaching session outside the live session to make-up for the missed session. Petitions to this polity are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted in writing to the instructor and AcademyGMC registrar.
AcademyGMC Payment/Fees: All registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants must send payment in full to the AcademyGMC registrar at least two weeks prior to the course or program start date. AcademyGMC accepts payment by check, and officially signed Federal Standard Form 182’s (Authorization Agreement and Certification of Training) prior to class start. No materials or online course access will be provided without prior payment or acceptance of a Government-approved contract for payment. All payment must be in U.S. currency.
AcademyGMC Refund Policy: Cancellation of a course must be made a minimum of 5 business days prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 5 days before the course are not eligible for a full refund. Written notices of cancellations shall be effective on the date the withdrawal is received by AcademyGMC. Refunds will be made within 15 days following receipt of cancellation or withdrawal requests. However, once a participant has full access to the course materials, there shall be no refund. In the event a course is cancelled, each participant will receive a full refund. If a participant has not been given access to the course materials, he or she may request a refund to withdraw from a course or program minus a $100 withdrawal fee.
Registration Modifications: Modification to registration, including substitution of participants or transfer of course dates, must be completed at least seven days before the program date. Participants may contact Ms. Barbara Hulick at 703-980-9766 or BLHulick@aol.com to modify their registration. Course changes will be allowed if there are spots available.
AcademyGMC Transfer of Credit: If a participant completed a Level 1 program at another organization, AcademyGMC will apply the completed credit hours to the participant’s Level 2 program. The participant must provide documentation of the Level 1 completion, including the organization, number of hours completed, completion certificate, and contact information for the organization or trainer. The participant may be asked for additional details or documentation on an as-needed basis. Please contact Ms. Barbara Hulick at 703-980-9766 or BLHulick@aol.com for more information.
AcademyGMC Illness: To provide participants with the minimum required training hours for certification, it is important that they should complete all training requirements. Should a participant or an immediate family member fall ill which requires the participant’s support as a primary care giver/guardian, the participant shall notify the instructor or program manager immediately if they will miss a session. The participant will be expected to complete the session make-up materials, review the session recording, and/or complete a coaching session outside the live session to make-up for the missed session. If the participant needs to miss more than 30% of the synchronous hours of the course, a participant has the option to work with the instructor to cover the missed materials at his/her own expense or register for another course. If a participant misses any of the mentor coaching, the participant needs to arrange and pay for individual mentor coaching sessions to complete the required 10 hours of mentor coaching to satisfy the ICF requirements. Petitions to this policy are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted in writing to the instructor and AcademyGMC registrar. A plan for course session make-up can be developed jointly by the participant and the instructor or program manager.
STANDARD 3: ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND TRANSPARENCY
AcademyGMC shall maintain a publicly accessible website with a copy of the public policies for ethics, integrity and transparency posted as required under ICF Standards. All AcademyGMC owners, faculty, staff, and participants shall abide by the ethics code and standards of the ICF. That is “Demonstrates ethical practice, understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards.”